The Hi-jack of the Trump “PRINCESS”

Captain G. M. Kelley is an author of several sea stories of adventures since his birth at sea on January 20, 1913. He had been born on the two mast schooner the “LIZZIE MAE” while she was “hove to” in a bad winter storm, around Boon Island Lighthouse, in the state of Maine.

Now older and with recall Captain G. M. Kelley was ready to use his experience for a new caper. With so many boats being stolen from Florida’s ports going to Cuba and Mexico, it seemed that all one had to do was steal a sport fishing boat. While after a bribe to officials another charter boat was in business.

If some person stole a loaf of bread to feed a hungry child he was a thief; if someone stole something big and expensive he was considered to be smart. The captain decided he would think big. He would use his experience to hi-jack a big yacht. One he had just read about in the newspaper. She lay exposed at her dock site opposite the owner’s casino.

The “PRINCESS” seizure was completed and now was offshore of Atlantic City. The problem was to keep the “PRINCESS” from being seen and the pirates (Kelley’s Heroes) caught.

The older captain used all of his experiences of a lifetime at sea. He confused his pursuers with several divisionary course directions.

The deal was completed to return the “PRINCESS” to the owner for the ransom. No! A last minute double cross killed the deal.

Part 2

The “PRINCESS” was off on a cruise to the Far East, to be delivered to an oil rich sheik. The captain and his pirate crew were off for another dangerous cruise.

The crew was prepared for this; they changed the appearance of the “PRINCESS” one more time from looking like the Russian fishing trawler into looking like an American-Bermuda Cruise Line heading toward the south east.

The rich Sheik was delighted with the transfer of the big yacht and the crew got the loot they wanted and a lot of relief that the job was completed. Kelley’s Heroes, the successful pirate crew now was no longer identified as pirates and was happy with the out turn, rich and free to return home.

The captain and crew find an old two mast schooner to buy and fix up a little to sail their way back to the United States. They had their stashed aboard loot to incriminate them, as they only had one last cruise to finalize the venture.

The big white painted yacht with varnished rails and all the bright works shining in the sun lay at her berth in front of the casino.

I thought how nice it must be to have the power that money brings to do whatever you want. When I had brought a yacht into Absecon Inlet the deep channel led to the state pier only. Now the owner of this magnificent-vessel had been allowed to dredge a channel and build a dock here in front of the casino.

Here in my hotel suite that overlooked the huge craft and with a view of the entrance of the casino for two days, I thought of how this could be done. With two days of studying behind me I had made several telephone calls. Men that I knew could be counted on and would like another adventure.

With big business men and politicians everywhere steal¬ing and cheating; judges and senators taking bribes; stealing was now a way of the land and sea. One was a crook if he stole small, but was looked up to if he stole big, I decided to think big.

I would use all my sea going experience to hi-jack this 282 foot yacht that lay’s at her berth below my hotel window. The helicopter resting on its high pad was even now being worked on; the blades slowly turning in the sun.

My first call was to Skilly as his skill in carpentry was needed to make my plan work. He was six foot tall and could plan and execute a carpenter job skillfully and quickly. My first call caught him at home; “Yes he was ready for any¬thing, tired of being retired and drinking too much beer.” I told him, “Come prepared for a lengthy stay.”

My next call was to Ray and Foggy and I left a number for them to call. I was able to get through to Orville and Walter as I knew they would be home and sleeping after a night of shrimp¬ing in Core Sound. The promise of excitement and a chance at big money brought these two younger men into the crew.

It took some doing to track down Harold, my older Coast Guard friend. Harold had lost an eye while in the service. The small pension barely got him through with the help of selling crabmeat to summer tourists in Maine. He was only too glad to join me in anything I had planned. He wanted adventure before his big sleep. He was on his way.

The call came from Ray and red whiskered Foggy. After the small talk of Ray’s mustache and his beer belly we got down to the matter in hand. They would come to Jersey for the get together; I would then enlighten them to the plot.

There would be need of an electrician, so I contacted Bernard Gould an old friend that had some trouble with the law over a tangle with muggers. He seemed to be the right sort of a person for this endeavor. I arranged for him to meet with us at the hotel. I would soon find out if he was my man. It turned out that he would be glad to get out of the limelight for a while and was glad to join in the venture.

Ed was my friend from the yacht sailing days. He had lost his wife and was drinking too much now without her nagging. He didn’t give a damn what happened now. He would be aboard for the duration.

As they arrived I talked to them separately or in pairs. It was imperative that total secrecy was maintained. That is why I had chosen carefully from past acquaintances except in the person of Bernard. I liked what I had heard of him and now thought he would work out fine and deserved reward for his action with his aggressors.

No one was allowed to travel anywhere alone or to make a phone call or write a letter. Our lives were on the line from now on. Each two-man team had its job to do and the confidence to get it done.
The “PRINCESS” was lying at her berth in front of the big gambling casino. She was a multi-million dollar luxury yacht and a nice one at that. It had a helicopter prominently displayed on it top deck. The “PRINCESS” was 282 feet long with all of the newest technology that money can buy.

The bluefish had hit all along the Jersey Shore. It seemed that everyone was fishing from the beaches or any pier that jetted out into the ocean. The huge breakwater jetty that protected the inlet was loaded with peoples all trying to get a big blue fish.

All the head boats were out about a half mile from the inlet cruising along the beach or anchored, waiting for a school of fish to swim by. With all the fishing going on, the security guards or the “PRINCESS” crew paid no heed to the twenty-four foot Grady White with two men aboard anchored close by.

I, Captain Kelley was in the boat with Skilly. He was the carpenter and a very good one. He gave me the estimated measurements and a list of equipment needed to change over the appearance of the “PRINCESS”.

Skilly could look at the job at hand and with a little figuring knew what he needed to complete the job, his experience was a great help here. The experience he has will get the job done fast and that is what we need when we changeover the looks of the “PRINCESS”.

There were a lot of things I had to plan ahead for, and make sure we had the right materials to do the job. We would have to get the “PRINCESS” away from the dock and out to sea. We watched each appearance of a crewman or guard and the change of security men and were recorded and the exact times keep up with. This was very important in getting away from the dock with the “PRINCESS” without a disturbance.